Achillea: The Charming Yarrow as a Star in Your Vase
Are you looking for a flower that not only brings a touch of natural beauty into your home but also lets you enjoy its splendor for a long time? Then get to know Achillea, better known as yarrow. This versatile flower, with its characteristic flat flower heads and fern-like leaves, is a true asset to any bouquet and interior.
The Natural Beauty of Achillea
Achillea owes its name to the Greek hero Achilles, who, according to legend, knew the healing powers of this plant. Although this blog focuses on its aesthetic qualities as a cut flower, the name does contribute to the robust and natural appearance of the bloom.
What makes Achillea so unique are the countless tiny flowers that together form a flat, corymb-shaped flower head. This structure not only adds volume and texture to bouquets but also a subtle, wild charm. The delicate, often finely divided leaves form a beautiful contrast with the flower heads and add an extra dimension to arrangements.
A Color Palette for Every Style
Achillea's popularity as a cut flower is also due to its enormous variety of colors. Whether you love the pure elegance of white, the sunny cheerfulness of yellow, the romantic softness of pink, the fiery passion of red, or the warm glow of orange – there's always an Achillea that suits your taste and interior. The many pastel shades and bi-colored varieties also offer endless possibilities for creative arrangements.
Why Choose Achillea as a Cut Flower?
In addition to its visual appeal, Achillea offers numerous benefits as a fresh cut flower:
- Long Vase Life: One of Achillea's most valued qualities is its excellent vase life. With the right care, you can often enjoy its blooms for 10 to 14 days.
- Sturdy Stems: Achillea stems are generally sturdy and straight, making them easy to handle and arrange in various vase models.
- Texture and Volume: The unique flower heads add interesting texture and beautiful volume to bouquets, making them look fuller and more vibrant.
- Sustainability: Achillea is a beloved plant for bees and butterflies, making it an ecologically responsible choice, especially when sourced from sustainable cultivation.
- The Art of Drying: An added bonus is that Achillea lends itself excellently to drying. The flowers retain their shape and color well, allowing you to enjoy them long after they've finished blooming fresh in dried bouquets or other decorative pieces.
The Right Care for Long-Lasting Enjoyment
To enjoy your fresh Achillea cut flowers for as long as possible, proper care is essential. Follow these tips for optimal vase life:
- Select with Care: When purchasing, choose stems that feel firm and flower heads that are fully colored but not yet fully open.
- Remove Lower Leaves: Remove all leaves from the stems that will fall below the waterline. This prevents rotting and bacterial growth in the water.
- Freshly Cut Stems: Cut the stems diagonally with a sharp knife (about 2-3 cm). This ensures better water absorption. Do not use scissors, as they can crush the water-conducting vessels in the stem.
- Hydration Boost: Place the flowers directly into a clean vase with fresh water and add cut flower food. You can also let the flowers hydrate in a cool place for a few hours before placing them in their final vase.
- The Right Environment: Do not place the vase with Achillea in direct sunlight, near a heat source (such as a radiator), or next to a fruit bowl. Fruit produces ethylene gas, which accelerates the aging of flowers.
- Change Water Regularly: Change the vase water every two days. Add fresh cut flower food with each water change.
- Re-cut Stems: Re-cut the stems diagonally every time you change the water. This keeps water absorption optimal.
- Be Alert to Fungi: Achillea can be susceptible to Botrytis (grey mold). Ensure good ventilation around the flowers and remove any affected petals immediately. Cut flower food containing a biocide can help prevent fungal growth.
Popular Achillea Species and Cultivars for Your Bouquet
The world of Achillea is rich and diverse. Here are some popular species and cultivars that perform well as cut flowers:
- Achillea millefolium (Common Yarrow): This species has numerous cultivars in beautiful colors such as the deep pink 'Cerise Queen', the soft mix of 'Summer Pastels', the striking rusty orange-red 'Paprika', and the warm bronze tones of 'Terracotta'.
- Achillea filipendulina (Fernleaf Yarrow): With its sturdy, tall stems and bright yellow flower heads, this species is a real eye-catcher. Well-known cultivars include the intensely golden yellow 'Cloth of Gold' and the equally golden yellow 'Parker's Variety'.
- Achillea ptarmica (Sneezewort): The cultivar 'The Pearl' with its small, white, double flowers is often used as an elegant alternative to baby's breath in bouquets.
- Hybrid Varieties: There are also many hybrid Achilleas that combine the best traits of different species and offer a wide range of unique colors and forms, such as the popular 'Galaxy' series.
Want to easily order Achillea online?
Good news for all flower lovers! All these beautiful Achillea species are easily available online at Florimo.nl. Feel free to take a look at their webshop to discover your favorite colors and varieties and order directly.
Didn't find what you were looking for?
If you can't find a specific Achillea species or color directly in the Florimo.nl webshop, please don't hesitate to contact them. Thanks to their extensive network of specialized growers, they can often still help you and supply the desired flowers.
Conclusion: Add the Natural Elegance of Achillea to Your Life
Whether you're putting together a lush field bouquet, want to add a subtle touch to your interior, or are looking for flowers that you can continue to admire as dried flowers after they've bloomed fresh, Achillea is an excellent choice. With its diverse colors, long vase life, and natural charm, this beautiful yarrow brings a touch of wild elegance to any space. So, the next time you choose fresh flowers, definitely consider the enchanting beauty of Achillea, easily ordered via Florimo.nl!